Game Notes: Dodgers vs. Indians (Finale)

The Los Angeles Dodgers have started their series finale with the Cleveland Indians. Here are some notes on the game thus far:

• It's 94 degrees (F) at game-time on this Sunday afternoon. But surprisingly, the stands are almost empty. Where are all the Dodgers' fans?
• Chad Billingsley started off the game by retiring the side without getting a hit. He did, however, nail Shin-Soo Choo with a 92-MPH fastball. But, the pitch was clean and purely unintentional. 
• Matt Kemp moved Pierre to third-base on a ground-rule double. The Dodgers are fortunate to have two runners in scoring-positions with no-outs.
• James Loney made contact for a two-RBI double in the bottom of the first inning. Juan Pierre and Matt Kemp scored.
• Russell Martin whacked his seventh homerun of the 2008 Regular Season. James Loney scored.
• The first-inning finally comes to a close with the Dodgers leading the Indians, 4-0. It took Paul Byrd 28 pitches to retire the side.
• In the top of the third-inning, the Cleveland Indians struck Chad Billingsley and the Dodgers to score three runs. Thankfully, the inning has now ended and the Dodgers still have a slim lead over the Indians, 4-3.
• In the top of the fourth-inning, Chad Billingsley has already thrown 88 pitches. It would be perfect to hand the ball over to the Dodgers' bullpen in a couple of innings. However, the Dodgers' bullpen is depleted.
• Luis Maza robbed slugger, Grady Sizemore, of a hit in the top of the fourth-inning. Maza made a tremendous over-the-head catch to end the half.
• In the bottom of the fourth-inning, Grady Sizemore got his revenge. The centerfield made a spectacular diving-catch to help Paul Byrd retire the side 1-2-3.
• Peralta tried to score on a David Dellucci-double in the top of the fifth-inning. But, a tailor-made relay to home gets him out.
• Hong Chih-Kuo replaced Chad Billingsley in the top of the sixth-inning. Billingsley ends the day pitching five innings and giving up three earned-runs.
• Joe Beimel and Jonathan Broxton make appearances, both striking out one batter. It's surprising to see Beimel pitching today, considering his last outing was yesterday.
• Takashi Saito came in to close the game to pick up his eleventh save of 2008. Jamey Carroll was called out on strikes to end the game.

I started off this blog post with a couple of notes about today's game, but it eventually turned into a Live Blog. I thought that the Dodgers did a spectacular job picking up the win today although Chad Billingsley was a bit shaky in his outing. Luckily, the Dodgers have an off-day tomorrow to rest their pitchers and bullpen.

Blog Note: I have added a blog-roll to the side of this blog. As you can see, this blog is still under construction and I am changing the theme every second. Hopefully, I will find a clean, SEO-friendly theme by the end of the week. Until then, please mind our renovation.

Update: Here is a video clip showing the highlights from the exciting game.